Larus delawarensis
The Ring-billed Gull, *Larus delawarensis*, is a common and highly adaptable medium-sized gull, instantly recognizable by its distinctive yellow bill marked with a prominent black ring and bright yellow legs. Adults typically measure 41-49 cm (16-19 in) in length with a wingspan of 112-124 cm (44-49 in) and weigh between 300-700 g (11-25 oz). Their plumage features a pristine white head, neck, and underparts, a medium grey back and upper wings, and black wingtips often adorned with white 'mir...
Found in a wide array of open habitats, from freshwater and saltwater shorelines to agricultural fields, urban areas, and landfills, typically at low to moderate elevations.
An extremely opportunistic omnivore, consuming a wide range of foods including insects (especially earthworms and grasshoppers), fish, crustaceans, small mammals, bird eggs and chicks, carrion, and human refuse; primarily foraging by ground gleaning, aerial dipping, and scavenging.
Ring-billed Gulls are highly social and diurnal, often observed in large flocks outside the breeding season, roosting communally on open water or shorelines. Their foraging strategies are remarkably diverse and opportunistic; they employ aerial dives for fish, ground gleaning for insects and eart...
The Ring-billed Gull boasts an extensive North American distribution. Its primary breeding range spans across Canada, from British Columbia east to Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, extending south into the northern United States, particularly through the Great Lakes region, the northern Great P...
Least Concern
- Often dubbed the 'French Fry Gull' for its common presence in parking lots and willingness to scavenge human food scraps. - Ring-billed Gulls are highly adaptable, making them one of the few bird species that thrive in urban and agricultural environments created by humans. - The oldest recorded...